Type shuttle and actuating mechanism therefor



Sept. 26, 1950 DE FOREST F. NEELY 2,523,533

TYPE SHUTTLE AND ACTUATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Nov. 8, 1948 INVEN TOR. 0e fires? Neely BY lg;

Fatented S ept. 26, i956 D STATES ATi'lNir omen SHUTTLE AND CTUATI'NG MECHANISM THEREFOR fie Forest F: Neely, Kansas City, Mo. ApplicationN oveniber 8, 1948, Serial No. 58,872

commonly referred to in'the trade as the Varityper and has more specifically to do with the 8 cla ms. (01.197-49) type carrier orfont thatis used with such'type- Writingmachines, the most important object beingto provide atype carrier having anarcuate segment upon which the type itself is formed and a web-like reinforcing and mounting'segment, such web-like segment being specially formed for more accurate fitting within the type receiving segment, to present-a more positive fit with the finger-like lever of the machine ,uponwhich the carrier is mounted, and'also formed to 'ride within the aforesaid anvil with less frictional contact therewith.

.Among the broad objects just: above set forth is the provision of a type font or carrier having a web-like segment provided with a. plurality of transverse opposed corrugations'for'med therein to th'e end thatthefricti'onal contact surface'be tween the carrier and. the anvilsupportingthe same, is reduced materially. i

h Explaining further one of the broad objects above set forth, .it is an" important object of this invention to provide a ,typecarrier having a weblike segment of doublethickness at mid-point thereon provided witha polygonal opening for slidably receiving the finger of the actuating 2 Other objects of the present invention will be made more clear or become apparent as the fol lowing specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 is a cross sectional View of a portion of a' typewriting machine showing the type carrier or shuttle forming the subject matter hereof operably" mounted thereon. Fig. 2 isa sideelevational view of the type font per se, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction. 1

Fig, 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2. W

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the web segment of'the type carrier showing the same entirely removed from the type segment and prior to formation of the central double thickness portion thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig; 2. l v Fig. 6 is a detailed fragmentary, cross-sectional viewtaken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4.; and "Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lever and vertical finger for the typewriting machine for receiving the type font.

Thetypewriting machine-with which the type font or shuttle forming the subject matter hereof lever therefor, all to the end that the grommet structure heretofore used in shuttles of thischarg acter might be eliminated.

'Another important object of the present invention is to provide a type shuttle having an arouate type-segment andv a web-segment that is fitted within a longitudinal groove formed in the type segment, there being a cooperating notch and rib structure formed on the segments to positively align the two segments when assembly takes place. Y 7

A still further object of this invention the provision of a, type font of the abovementioned character having the above mentioned poly onal opening formed in the web-like segment thereof, said opening being provided with a pairof opposed notches for receiving yieldable means in the nature of opposed spring members on the supporting finger for positively positioning the type font in a plurality. of selected positions.

is adapted to be used, includes a pair of feed rollerslO and I2, operably mounted upon a carriage (not shown) for feeding a work-sheet upwardly between a type carrier broadly designated by the numeral I l and a shiftable hammer Hi.

This hammer I6 is operated in the conventional manner upon actuation of typing keys to strike the Work-sheet and bring the same against any one of a number of letters arranged in three rows 18, 2|] and 22.

The type carrier or shuttle It is mountedon a ring-like support or anvil 24, said-anvil 24 having a s1ot'26 through which extends a guide web orac'tuating segment 28, mounted upon a segment' 3%; which in turn has the rows of type 16, 20 and 22, formed thereon.

Asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the shuttle I4 is provided with two groups of'types at oppo site sides of the hammer IS, the shuttle is being operable by a lever'or actuator 32 from a central position to either side of the machine to carry thedesired types to the printing point opposite the hammer Hi. This shuttle'actuating lever 32 is, pivotally-supported by a sleeve 34 to swing about a vertical shaft 36 that is suitably supported in the machine frame 38.

"never 32 is provided with a vertical finger M.

that passes through an opening t2 formed in the web-like segment 28.- The shuttle actuator 32 is operated by any one of a pair of vertically disposed arms 44 and 46 that are actuated by key levers. Indexing pins 48 are also operable by the key levers to project the same into the path of an arm 58 of the actuator 32 to register the selected type at the printing point.

Heretofore the type carriers or shuttles produced for use with machines of the above mentioned character, have been provided with a Web segment 28 of much the same character as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing, except that the same included a separate bushing mounted within the opening of the segment 28 and secured thereto by rivets.

It has been found in the field, that such type of formation of the bearing assembly within the web segment 28, is unsatisfactory because of .the loose fit presented between the web 28 and the finger 40. Consequently, when the actuator 32 is swung to the extremities of its path of travel, there is' a tendency for the shuttle l4 to swing by centriffigal force beyond the desired position, with a consequent misalignment of the type upon the sheet of writing material being used. Through such loose interconnection between the type font and the supporting finger 40, there is also experienced the difiiculty of misalignment due to transverse wabbling of the entire font 14 upon the finger 40. Consequently the finished typewritten sheet has rows of letters that are out of alignment, not only longitudinally but transversely and obviously, the longer a particular shuttle is used, the more wabble and relative swinging movement takes. place between the shuttle and the supporting finger.

These difficulties and others have been met by the construction about to be described. The 'Web 28 is of the usual arcuate contour and formed from an initially fiat sheet of metallic material, the same being stamped or otherwise formed to present a laterally extending flap'52 intermediate the ends thereof. This flap 52 extends radially inwardly from the innermost arcuate face of the web 28 midway between the ends thereof. The flap 52 is also provided with a short tab 54 extending-outwardly from its outermost free end and the openin 42 for the web 28 is formed by a pair of identical openings 56 and 58 formed in the main body portion of web 28 and Within the na 52 thereof respectively. The fiap 52 is folded from the position shown in Fig. 40f the drawing .on a line indicated by the numeral 68 in "Fig. 4 to overlap the main body portion of web 28 intermediate the ends thereof. When the flap 52 is so folded, the openings 56 and 58 are in direct m'iitual alignment and the tab 54 is bent laterally to pass through a polygonal opening'62 formed in the web 28. Consequently, with the tab 54 and the opening 62 correctly positioned, the openings 56 and 58 will be in direct mutual alignment whenfolding of flap 52 takes place and such openings 56 and 58 will remain in such position throughout the life of the type shuttle.

-Fi g. 3 of the drawing clearly illustrates the position of tab 54 within opening 62 and after such folding of the flap 52 takes place, the entire metallic Web 28 is hardened for assurance that the flap 52 will always remain in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.

The over-all length and width of the original opening 42 formed by the aligned openings 56 and 58, is the same as the'cross-sectional area as the finger 40 of actuator 32. Consequently, when the shuttle I4 is movedinto position upon parts heretofore needed in providing a separate grommet or bearing is eliminated and a suflicient contacting surface is presented between the web 28 and the finger 40 to prevent all relative movementbetween such parts. It is obvious also that the cost of production of this type of Web 28 is appreciably less and that the same may be produced with speed and dispatch as compared with the shuttle having a separate grommet or bearing for receiving the finger 40. The web 28 and particularly the opening 42 thereof has been produced for use with the present type of machines having fingers formed as at 48 Without the necessity of altering the latter, but it is contemplated further that finger 40 be also altered in the man'- ner illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing. Such alteration consists of afiixing to the finger 40, a pair of opposed springs 64 and 65 of identical character. I

These springs 64 and 66 are inopposed relationship and extend longitudinallyjof the finger 40 and are formed from lengths of resilient wire or the like and bent into a plurality of loops in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 of thefdrawing. Such loops of the two spring members 64 and 66 are indirect opposed relationship and the ends of the springs arefus'ed or otherwise fixed directly to the proximal face of finger 40. Through formation of such plurality of loops, a number of depressions 68 are presented on both faces of the finger 40. I

In order to accommodate such springs 64 and 66, the opening 42 of the web segment 28 is provided with a pair of opposed V-shaped notches 18 inthe longitudinal edges thereof. Obviously, both'opening's 56 and 58 are so contoured and when the web 28 is mounted upon the finger 40 having springs 64'and56 thereonythe notches 10 will accommodate such-springs. As the shuttle 'I4 is moved longitudinally with respect to the finger 48,,the loops of the spring will compress until such time as theopening'42 is positioned Within the recessedfportions 68. Accordingly, a positive positioning of the shuttle I'4is presented on the finger 40, there being thr'eedepression's 68 corresponding'to the three-rows of type [8, Hand 22.

Another reason for the misalignment of type uponthe'writing paper, lies inthe'large area'of frictional contact between the conventional web of the'shuttle andthe'an vil 24. As the web 28 slides'along the opposed guides presented'by slot 26, a drag takes place "andwhenthe'hammerm is actuated, the particular type that is struck thereby, will be out of "alignment because of the tendency of the shuttle to lag behind'the'finger 4'0and actuator 32. The web 28, therefore,' of the present invention is provided with a plurality of opposed corrugations .12 suitably stamped therein durin the initial production of Web 28. These corrugations 72 are formed transversely 'of the webj28'throughout itsleng th in the manher illustrated in'Figs. 2 and l'of the drawing and when web"2 8is'posit ioned within the slot26, onlythe extremities of the corrugations will actually be in"frictional contact with the opposed' sides of. the slot 26.; This contact is schematically illustrated in Fig. 61 0f the drawing by lines 14. Thesegrnent 30 of shuttle M has heretofore been produced in a number of differing manners such as the use of hard rubber with the rubber vulcanized on a perforated metal segment. In some cases, the guide web was attached to the typesegment through themedium of an additional metal segment for reinforcing the type segment. 1

Another form constituted a molded type segment of phenol condensation with the web of the shuttle bonded upon the type segment during the molding process. In any event, the conventional type segment constituted a plurality of parts requiring precise alignment during the interconnection process and resulting in an expensive and delicate operation.

It has been found in the field that it is almost impossible to align the various parts of the type segment so as to assure alignment of letters upon the writing material and, obviously, the cost of production of such type of shuttle is tremendous.

It is contemplated that the segment 30 of the present device can be manufactured through the use of apparatus in the nature of a bobbing machine of the kind set forth in my copending an:- plication, Serial No.'58,873, fi1ed 'on even'date herewith, and entitled fApparatus and Method for Manufacture of Type Fonts and the Like.

Such machine takes the nature of a press having suitable die members as a part thereof capable of forming an initially flat sheet of metallic material into the arcuate contour illustrated in the drawing. Such. machine automatically forms the type rows 18, and 22 with the outermost faces thereof positively fiat, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. During such stamping operation, a. plurality of ribs 16 and I8 are formed on the face of the segment 30 opposite to the type. I

A longitudinal groove 80 is also formed on this opposite face of the segment 30 between the ribs 18 thereof for receiving the outermost longitualignment-during assembling of a plurality" ofseparate parts.

1 It is apparent from the foregoing that a large number of changes are provided in the type font forming the subject matter hereof over the conmetthrough cooperation of the precise forma- ;ion of the web 28, the finger 40 and the segment It is apparent that many additional changes other than, those above set forth, may be made in such printing instrumentalities without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A type shuttle for a typewritting machine comprising a type segment and a web-like member thereon, said member having a plurality of ribs formed thereon to provide sliding surfaces for the member when the same is moved along a guide therefor.

2. A type shuttle for a typewriting machine comprising a type segment and a web-like member thereon, said member having a plurality of ribs formed thereon to provide sliding surfaces for the member when the same is moved along a guide therefor, said ribs traversing the path of travel of said member on said guide.

3; A type shuttle for a typewriting machine comprising a type segment and an arcuate, weblike member thereon, said member having a plurality of substantially radial ribs formed thereon to provide sliding surfaces for the member 30, a rib 82 is formed on the innermost face of i the segment 30, said rib extending transversely of the slot 80 and of the ribs 18. This rib 82 is positively positioned at a, mid-point between the ends of the segment 30 and is received by a similarly shaped notch 84 formed in the web 28 at its exact center.

During the assembling process, the operator when the same is moved along a guide therefor. 4. A type shuttle for a typewriting machine comprising a type segment and a web-like member thereon, said member having a plurality of ribs formed thereon to provide sliding surfaces for the member when the same is moved along a guide therefor, said ribs extending outwardly from the opposed faces thereof.

5. A type shuttle for a typewriting machine comprising a type segment and a web-like member thereon, said member having a plurality of opposed corrugations formed therein to provide sliding surfaces for the member when the same 30 from a single sheet of material and forming no difficulty experienced with respect to misis moved between a pair of spaced guides therefor.

6. A type shuttle for a typewritingmachine comprising an arcuate type segment formed from a single strip of metallic material and having a longitudinal groove formed in the innermost face thereof; and a web-like member fitted in said groove and secured to the type segment, said face of the type segment having a centrallydisposed rib intersecting said groove thereof, said member being notched midway between the ends thereof for receiving said rib.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an elongated finger; a type carrier having an apertured, web-like member as a part thereof, said aperture receiving the finger for longitudinal sliding movement of the member on the finger; and means on the finger for yieldably holding said member in a number of selected positions on the finger.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an elongated finger; a type carrier having an apertured, web-like member as a part thereof, said aperture receiving the finger for longitu dinal sliding movemenhof the-member. on the 1, REEERENGES- CITED I fingefi means onthe fingerq b y- "The following references are of record in the holdmg sald member 1n a number of selected file this patents positions on, the finger, said; means comprising at least one elongated. spring secured longi- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tudinally on the finger and. formed to bias toward Number i Name Date the proximal edge of said aperture when the 501,504 Hammond; July 18, 1893 member is on the finger. 624,864 Quente11= May 9, 1899 644,166 Freret,.Jr., et a1.- Feb. 27, 1900 DE FOREST F; NEELY. 10 644,187 Sears A Feb. 27, 1900 1,974,313 Pitman Sept. 18, 1934 

